Tree Canada kicks off Alberta Flood Releaf program

Tree Canada

Tree Canada kicks off Alberta Flood Releaf program

Ottawa, ON – (May 8, 2014) – Help is on the way for trees damaged by the Alberta floods. Tree Canada has partnered with TELUS to launch Alberta Flood ReLeaf.

The Alberta Flood ReLeaf program provides funding to homeowners, private landowners and municipalities for replacing trees that have been severely damaged or killed by last summer’s massive flood.

It follows the success of a similar program, the Alberta Mountain Pine Beetle ReLeaf, which started four years ago in response to devastation caused by a Mountain Pine Beetle invasion.

Floods devastated several communities in and around the Calgary area last summer, leaving many mature trees uprooted and many more damaged. The result was a severely depleted tree canopy, which has far-reaching implications for the communities– from impacts to air quality to the community’s ability to manage rainfall.

“I visited Calgary five days after the flood and was shocked to see the destruction,” said Michael Rosen, President of Tree Canada. “At that moment, we knew we’d be back. With the support of the Alberta government and our corporate sponsors, we are committed to helping return the tree canopy to its former glory.”

Tree Canada is now accepting applications for both the Alberta Mountain Pine Beetle ReLeaf program and Alberta Flood ReLeaf program. The programs are open to any resident, landowner or municipality that might benefit. Residents can apply for a rebate of $80 off the cost of a landscape tree. Land owners with shelterbelt or landscape trees can apply for tree seedlings or potted trees up to a 5 gallon pot size for a maximum of $3,000. Municipalities will be able to apply for a maximum amount of $5,000. Click here to fill out an application form and submit before June 30, 2014.

Tree Canada is a not-for-profit charitable organization established to encourage Canadians to plant and care for trees in urban and rural environments. Tree Canada engages Canadian companies, government agencies and individuals to support the planting of trees, the greening of schoolyards, and other efforts to sensitize Canadians to the benefits of planting and maintaining trees. To date, over 80 million trees have been planted, over 550 schoolyards have been greened, and Tree Canada has helped organize ten national urban forest conferences. This year’s Canadian Urban Forest Conference will take place in Victoria, BC from September 30-October 2, 2014. More information about Tree Canada is available at www.treecanada.ca.